Does anyone else feel overwhelmed when redecorating a room?

[Hibernias Daughter]

I know some people have a knack for it but not me. Too many decisions on colors and style; and should I paint or just stain the pine floor? And what about the ceiling? I'm afraid to do that even though most of the decorating shows say yes to it.

Any suggestions? It's a small guest bedroom with only one window. So maybe a light color paint to brighten it up? I don't know where to start! :crazy:

[azmouse]

1. I keep the walls a simple color like off-white.

I like to add color in places where it's easier to change... like throw pillows or the comforter for a bedroom.
If the pine floor is in good shape I would stain it and use rag rugs for warmth.
I would keep the ceiling white.

Keep things simple, go slowly, and chose your favorite things. This is your house and you don't have to do things any particular way but how you want them.

[Hibernias Daughter]

2. Thanks. That's good advice

I was thinking of matching the rm color to that of a comforter I've got for it. But you're right now that I think about it... I'm going to want to be able change that comforter to another if I want.

[azmouse]

4. If you do crafts like painting or drawing,

those pictures can be great things to frame and hang in a guestroom.

I crochet doilies and I've framed some of the fancy ones. They look great on the walls and add a personal touch.

I've had to redo my entire home. The last people here weren't very clean so I've had to paint everything, recarpet and decorate. It's been work but it's also been fun to see how things change.

Good luck with your project!!

[Arugula Latte]

3. The decorators always say to use an "inspiration piece."

Sounds like your quilt is it -- you can tie the colors into that. I used to always do the white or off-white thing; but in the past five years I've really gotten into color and I like it sooooo much better. It makes the place look so much warmer and more inviting and less, I don't know, "cheap" or something. I like rich colors that you'd find somewhere in nature. Wall paint is just paint -- if you have a small room you can always repaint in a few years. :shrug:

Personally, I think the key is to make rooms look cozy and inviting without making them cluttered. Good storage is key. Try to highlight pieces that you really love, and stash or jettison the rest.

[Hibernias Daughter]

5. Thanks

I'm trying not to be afraid of bold color but old habits die hard. :scared:
Luckily storage isn't an issue though.

[NMDemDist2]

6. i second the "inspiration piece" idea

I usually find something (a picture, a pillow, a vase or whatever) that has the colors and look I like then build around that

for wall colors, I usually go with one accent wall in a good color and the other walls neutral. that way if i hate it, it's easy to change. when buying paint remember it will always go on darker than the sample looks so err on the side of the lighter shade when getting the paint

remember to add some dark colors for contrast, red and black accessories used sparingly give a room "pop"

watch "FreeStyle", "Design on a Dime" , "Decorating Cents" and "Design Remix" on HGTV religiously. all give great ideas on how to use what you already have. You can go to their website www.hgtv.com and pull up all the old shows for ideas

don't forget lighting. you can get cheap lamps at Dollar Stores or Goodwill that can totally change the way a room "feels" and don't be afraid to buy some spray paint to give old lamps a new look. simply buying a new style lampshade can do wonders

finally you need to think about balance and scale. make sure that you use small pieces in a small room and larger pieces in larger rooms. make sure that all the tall pieces don't end up on one side. don't be afraid to place furniture at odd angles either sometimes it will make a boring room interesting

good luck and take before and after pics, we want to see :bounce:

edit to add, usually you'll want to keep the ceiling a light color so the room feels larger and if you have a pine floor don't you DARE paint it!

[Hibernias Daughter]

7. Great advice, Thanks

And I'll definately be checking out that website! :hi:

[NMDemDist2]

10. here's a room with the pine floors and using the accent wall like I mentioned

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_design_bedroom/article/0,1793,HGTV_3366_3763776,00.html

edit to add a link with lots of country bedrooms (pine + quilt=country)

http://web.hgtv.com/hgtv/web/portfolioSearchResults?searchType=Portfolio&Style=Country&Room=DP%20BEDROOMS

http://web.hgtv.com/hgtv/web/portfolioSearchResults?searchType=Portfolio&Style=Arts%20and%20Crafts&Room=DP%20BEDROOMS

[unpossibles]

20. try putting a bold color on one or two walls

that way it won't be so overpowering. I like one wall as you can choose a particular side of the room to emphasize. And it's always a good idea to have it tie in somewhere else (like an accent color on something or even a piece of art - doesn't have to be much).

For floors, i recommend stain and polyurethane - painted floors will often chip or crack if high traffic.

[crim son]

9. Oh, just posted the same thing.

But you put it better!

[crim son]

8. My suggestion is

pick the one aspect of the room that is very important to you. Maybe you MUST have a particular bedspead, or you really want the walls to be stencilled, or whatever. Whatever is essential to your vision of how the room should look and feel, and work from that point. For example, if your bed is black wrought iron and you love it, then use the black, or the curves in the iron in your overall design. Use wrought iron curtain rods. Maybe the carpet will have a design that echoes the shape or line of the headboard. That sort of thing. You can't go wrong.

[Hibernias Daughter]

14. Great idea

And the bedframe just so happens to wrought iron! With everybody's help, I'm starting to see this come togethor. Thanks!

[crim son]

15. Cool. You're in Maine.

Hi, fellow Maine DUer! :hi:

[Hibernias Daughter]

17. Back atcha!

:hi:

What a dreary day we're having. Nice day for DU though! :-)

[NMDemDist2]

18. that terracotta idea from downthread would work great with wrought iron

and give it a spanish hacinda warmth in chilly Maine. get some colorful Mexican/Southwestern tiles to hang up and use as inspiration

wrought iron is easy to find in thrift stores usually too and a little spray paint gives it new life everytime

you may be on to something there !!

[Mz Pip]

11. I just finished a guest room

We had a spare bedroom that was just becoming a depository for books, boxes, stuff... It had a comfortable bed and would always have clean sheets for guests but it wasn't very inviting.

I moved everything out except for the bed. I painted 3 walls a color that is a cross between a dusty rose and terracotta and painted the window wall a creamy white. I left the ceiling the off white that it was. I made draperies that were sage green with designs that were the wall color and had a quilt with had colors that matched both walls. Added some art to the wall and moved back one dresser, a book case and a night stand. It looks really nice now.

The worst part of redecorating for me is just after I get the stuff out of the room and start with the painting. Finishing seems like an overwhelming task. But it is worth it when it's done.

Don't paint the floor. Natural wood is so much warmer.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Hibernias Daughter]

12. That room sound lovely

I would never have thought of combining the colors you chose but now that you mention it, I can picture it all coming togethor nicely. I guess learning how to think outside the box is key. Thanks!

[NMDemDist2]

13. here's what I did with my guest room

I still need to hang the wall sconce lights that look like a lot like this



so the room was small, one wall was badly damaged and I picked up a trundle couch at an estate sale that had a horrible plaid



I had the duvet and shams that i loved from my old house so I used that as inspiration along with the desert watercolor

made the curtains out of a window scarve I had already and used a rug to lighten up the dark flooring, had the throws and the decorative things, just remixed them keeping with the colors I wanted. most came from the Goodwill over a period of time. the damaged wall is a pale sage green that is the same as the matting on the big picture. i added some similar colored vases on the CD tower

it had to be fast down and dirty, i had guests coming 7 weeks after I bought the place

i had that stool and the drop leaf table works great when I want to drag out the sewing machine

it still needs some work but viola, here it is

[Hibernias Daughter]

16. Wow. DUers are so creative!

I like how you did that. Thanks again for all the helpful hints!

[bleedingheart]

19. I am design deficient...I almost never complete any decorating

because I like too many things and can't decide...and I do nothing as a result.